WEEKEND WEB: Jerry Green says ‘No’ to puppy farms

MAN’S BEST FRIEND: A weekly column from the South Lincs Centre of Jerry Green Dog Rescue

Jerry Green Dog Rescue is calling on fellow animal lovers to put pressure on the Government to ban the sale of puppies by pet shops and other third-party dealers.

Can you give a home to Annabelle?

Last week Defra set out plans to improve animal welfare standards, which include a blanket ban on the sale of puppies from pet shops and puppy farms.

Gill Skinner of Jerry Green said: “As a charity dedicated to the care, welfare and responsible rehoming of dogs, we welcome any review of the law which makes selling dogs illegal for anyone other than licensed breeders and charities that rehouse abandoned dogs.”

“Having previously campaigned for an end to puppy farming, we are keen to support Defra’s recommendations to ban the sale of puppies in this way.

“More regulation is essential if we are to tackle the unscrupulous dealers in this dreadful trade.”

Jacqui Bell, CEO at Jerry Green, said: “Alarmingly, the standard dog breeding licence doesn’t put anywhere near enough emphasis on the long-term welfare of the breeding bitches and their pups.”

“Unsuspecting owners can end up with pets with serious health issues including arthritis and breathing problems, and when they struggle to cope they often turn to us for advice and in some cases for rehoming.

“I would urge anyone thinking about getting a dog to get in touch with the team here at Jerry Green to find out what sort of dog would be the best match for your lifestyle before making the commitment. People would probably be surprised at who turns out to be their best match.”

DOG OF THE WEEK

Hello, I’m Annabelle! I used to be a racer but now I prefer a slower pace of life and my favourite thing to do these days is to lounge around on my bed.

I still enjoy going out for regular walks and am very gentle on the lead. I have spent time with other dogs but can find them a little too much if they are playful. I will take myself away and watch from the side-lines. I could potentially live with another calm dog of a similar size to me.

Due to my racing background I won’t be suitable to live with cats or small furries! I am ideally looking for a quiet home with older children or just adults.

I am currently in a foster home, so if you would like to meet me please call my human friends on 01205 260546 or email slincs@jerrygreendogs.org.uk

Therena’s Tip – Muzzle training, part two

Last week we looked at why we may need to muzzle our dogs and the types of muzzles available. This week we will look at how to train your dog to wear a muzzle.

Taking it Step by Step

To habituate your dog to the muzzle put some tasty food your dog loves in the bottom of it and show it to your dog. The smell should interest them and they will investigate.

A common issue with muzzle training is that the dog will take the food, then pull their head out straight away, meaning they are not happy keeping their face in it. By removing the muzzle before they are finished your dog is more likely to come towards the muzzle, rather than pull away.

After a few sessions, your dog will begin to eat with their nose inside the muzzle. Don’t try to fasten the muzzle at this stage; we need to make the muzzle much more pleasant before we do that.

Once your dog will happily put their nose in the muzzle, you can make it a game! Prepare the muzzle with treats, then call your dog over and wave the muzzle a little. When your dog puts their nose in keep it still and remove it before you dog is finished. You can try stepping backwards while your dog is eating from the muzzle, or by hiding with it and having your dog come and find you.

Anything you do with the muzzle should be fun and rewarding for your dog to put their nose in it.

When your dog is excited to do activities that involve putting their face in the muzzle you can begin by holding the straps around your dogs’ face as they eat. Take the muzzle away before they are finished eating and repeat.

Once your dog is comfortable with the feeling of the straps around their face you can fasten it up. Build up the length of time your dog wears the muzzle for, start out in short sessions of one minute and build up to longer lengths of time.

Once your dog has their muzzle on, the trick is to keep them so engaged and occupied on other things that they don’t try to get the muzzle off. You can feed them treats, ask them to do well-known tricks or go for a walk. Keep the pace jolly and praise them a lot for wearing the muzzle.

When you are finished with the muzzle, don’t forget to wash it so it’s clean for next time.

Top Tips

Squeezy cheese or liver paste is great for muzzle training because it can be squeezed into the muzzle and also through the muzzle as your dog is wearing it

If your dog if very food motivated you can incorporate muzzle training into their daily routine and use some of their normal breakfast or dinner portion as training treats!